Internet access 'should be classed a utility'

The House of Lords believes broadband services should now be classed as a utility not a luxury.

The ability to access the internet should no longer be classed as a luxury for households and businesses across the UK, but instead these services should be categorised as a utility due to the essential functions they can enable.

This is the view of a new report published by the House of Lords, which argues universal access to broadband services must now be a priority for the government.

Entitled 'Make or Break: The UK's Digital Future', the report highlighted how the UK already has a universal service obligation for the provision of functional internet access at speeds of 28 Kbps, but these speeds are no longer acceptable for the vast majority of services.

"We are concerned about the pace of universal internet coverage and the delivery of superfast broadband," the study stated.

It added that the continued existence of 'not-spots', particularly in urban areas, is an issue that now requires urgent redress.